Switch



H. GESSWEIN April ll, 1950 SWITCH Filed Jan. 15, 1949 INVENTOR Jen J'yGesswen mami ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 11, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE SWITCH Henry Gesswein, Stocktcn, Calif. Application January 15,1949, Serial No. 71,101"

(CL Z00--52) 13 Claims.

This invention relates generally to an eleetric switch.

In certain coin controlled, electrically operated amusement devicessuchas so-cailed "pin-ball machines-a tilt actuatedswitch is interposed inthe circuit for the purpose of automatically breaking said circuit andstopping operation of the amusement device when a person manually tiltsthe device attempting to accomplish improper playing thereof.

It is one object of the present invention to provide a tilt actuatedswitch which is especially adaptable, but not limited, for use in anamusement device 'as above.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tilt actuated switch, asabove, wherein a gravity displaced ball serves as the switch controlmedium.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tilt actuated switch,as in the preceding paragraph, wherein said gravity displaced ball isdis posed to run on a pair of Spaced but side by side longitudinalsupporting fingers one of said fingers being movable laterally upon theball running in a. predetermined direction along said fingers, and suchlateral movement of said one finger controlling the switch A furtherobject of the inventlon is to provide a switch designed for ease andeconomy of manufacture.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical andreliable switch, and one which will be exceedingly efiective for thepurpose for which it is designed. l These objects are accomplished bymeans of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fullyappear by a perusal of the following' specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1' is a side elevation of the switch, with the housing o'r frame insection; showing the parts of said switch in their normal positions.

Fig. 2 is a cross section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the switch, with the parts in normal position,as in Fig, 1.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but shows the switch with the partsin the positions occupied thereby when said-switch is open under theinfluence of the gravity displaced ball.

Fig. 5 is a cross section online 5-5 of F'g. 4.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on thedrawings, the switch comprises an upstanding housing or frame, indicatedgenerally ati, which frame is of elongated, rectangular configuration,including sides 2 and ends 3. The frame I ,is preferably formed ofdielectric material and is adapted to be mounted on a supportingstructure by any suitable means (not shown).

Within the frame I', and extending lengthwise thereof, the switchincludes a pair of longitudinal supporting fingers 4 and 5 disposed inside by side but spaced apart relation. The supporting fingers 4 and 5are of fiat strip metal disposed vertically edgewise; the nger 4 beingfixed to the frame I by attachment'at opposite ends of said finger tothe ends 3 of the frame. The upper edges of the fingers 4 and 5 lie insubstantally the same horizontal plane.

The finger 5 is free at one end with respect to the frame l and ismounted at its other end to the corresponding end of the frame by aspring hinge 6 for lateraloutward swinging motion relative to the fixedfinger 4. The spring hinge 8 normally but yieldabl maintains the finger5 substantially parallel to the finger 4. (See Fig. 3.)

A terminal 1 is mounted on the end 3 of the frame l which corresponds tothe spring hinge 6; said terminal l being an electrical connection withthe laterally outwardly movabe nger 5.

Another terminal 8 is mounted in connection with the side 2 of the framedirectly laterally out from the free end portion of the finger 5; saidterminal 8 including an inwardly projecting switch point 9 which extendsthrough the adjacent side 2 and terminates adjacent but short of acooperating switch point I 0 on the near side of said finger 5. When thefinger 5 is in its nor-` mal position, as in Fig. 3, theswitch points 9and I 0 are separated. In other words, the switch is normally open. i

While the present switch is designed for use in a circuit whereinclosing of the switch causes the breaking of such circuit, as through arelay, it is obvious that such switch could be designed to open ratherthan close upon lateral swinging of the fingcr 5 relative to the nger 4.

Such latera swinging of the nger 5 to close the switch is caused by agravity displaced ball I l. This ball H is preferably of metal, ofsubstantial weight, and of a diameter greater than the spacing of thefingers 4 and 5.

The frame i is mounted within the cabinet of the amusement devi'ce; orother device being con-` trolled, with a very slight tilt toward thespring hinge end of the frame l whereby the ball I l nor mally rests onthe fingers 4 and 5 at the end portions thereof adjacent said springhinge. However, if the amusement device is tiited by a person in anattempt to accomplish lmproper playing of such device, the frame I willbe tilted down wardly toward the end opposite the spring hinge 8, as inFig. 4, Whereupon the ball H is gravitationally displaced from itsnormal position, as in Fig. 1, to a position at the other end of theframe, as in Fig. 4. When the ball H moves to this latter position itsweight causes the finger 5 to Shift laterally outwardly, closing theswitch points 9 and !0, and thus closing the switch. As previouslydescribed, this results in breaking of the circuit of the ,amusementdevice, ,and prevents unauthorzed play thereof by manual tilting.

The switch is automatically resetting for the reason that when thedevice is returned to its' the ball H will have return normal position,travel on the ngers 4 and 5 to its initial or ing position.

While the switch is simplen-its structure, and designed for ready andinexpensive manufacture, nevertheless it provides a very practical andrestartliable control for the circuit of any device which may besubject'to 'ti-lting and wherein 'it is desired to breakthe circuit when "such'tilt oc'curs.

From the foregoing description it will :be -readily seen that :there:has been produced such a device as :substantially f ulfills theobjects'of the invention, as set forth herein. i

While this speoification sets forth :in detail the present and preferredconstruction of the device, still in practice such devietons :from 'suchdetail may be :resorted to 'as do :not form -a departure from the spiritof the invention, as defined by the appencled claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed :as newand-useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

A tilt actuated switch comprising a support, a ;pair -of -spaced butside :by'side Jongitudinal fingers mounted in :connection with thesupport for relative lat-eral separating :motion at "one end, a ball nonthe fingers for gravitational -displa cement therealong toward .said one`end from a. normal position adjacenztthe opposite end, suchgravitatinal :displacement .of the ball causing relative lateral Separation o `the iin'gers, 'and switch con tacts mounted for relativeactuati-on :by such separat-ion of the fingers. i

2. A tilt 'actuate dswitch comprising' a support, a pair of :spaced but'side by` side longitudinal fineits mounted in connection with thesupport .for

relative latera-l `separarting ,motion at one end, a

ball on t-he fingers .for :gravitationai displacement thereal'ong toward'said one .end from 'a normal position adj'acent the opposite end, suchgravita tion-al -displacement of "the ball causing relative lateralseparation of the ngers, and switchoontactsmounted for relative:actuatiunby such separation of 'the fin gers; *there'zbeing means`normally but yieldably 'resistizng such :separation of the' fingers.

3 A switch, as in claim 2, i-n which said means comprises a spring.

4. A switch, ,as in claim 3, in which 'said spring is included in aspring hinge; the latterhinging one 'Singer', at said opposite end, tothe 'support for said relative lateral separation 'of the fingers. I

5. A tilt actuated switch comprising `a support, a pair of spaced -bu-tside by :side -long-itudinal fingers mounted in connection with thesupport for relative ,lateral separati-ng-motion at *one end, a

ball on the &fi-tigers :f-or gravitational 'displacement therealongtoward said one end from a normal position adjacent the opposite end,such gravitational displacement of the ball causing relative later-alseparation of the :fing'ers, :and switch contacts mounted for relativeactuation by such sep- Cai aration of the fingers; there being oneswitch contact mounted on the support, 'and another cooperating switchcontact mounted on one of said relatively laterally separable fingers.

6. A tilt actuated switch comprising a support, a pair of spaced butside by side longitudinal ngers, means mounting one finger in a fixedposition on the support, other means securing the other finger at oneend on the support for laterally outward 'sw'ing'ing motion, yieldable'force exerting means normally resisting 'laterally outward Swingingmotion of said other finger, a relatively heavy hall on said fingers forgravitationa displacement therealong from a normal position adjacentsaid erally outward against the force of said yieldable force exertingmeans, and switch contacts mounted for relative actuation by suchswinging of said other finger.

- 7.- A tiltactuatedswitchcomprising a support, a pair of spaced butside by sid longitudinal finge-rs, means mounting ..one finger :in .afixed position on the support, other means securing the other finger atone end on the .support for later-any outward swinging motion, yieldableforce exerti-ng ,means normally resisting laterally outward swingingmotion of said other ngen a relatively heavy ball on .said fingers forgravitational displacement therealong froma normal position adjacentsaidoneend toa position .adiacent the opposite end whereby to cause;said other finger toswing laterallyoutward against the :force of saidyieldable force exerting means, and :switch Contacts mounted :forrelative actuation by such swinging of said other .fingem said othermeans being a spring .hinge, the .includedspring .com prisin saidyieldable :force exerting means.

8. A tiltactuated .switch comprising .a support, a ,pair of spacedbutside .by side .longitudinal fingers, means mounting one finger in afixed ;posi tion on the support, other means .securing the other fingerat=one end on the support for laterally outward swing ng motion,yieldable force exerting means normally resisting laterally outs wardswinging motion of said other danger, .a relatively heavy ball on saidfingers for grat/itational displacement therealong `"from a .normal.position adjacent said one end to a position ad: jacent the opposite endwhereby to cause .said other finger to Swing laterally outwardagainstthe force of said yielda-ble :force `exerting means, and switchContacts mounted for relative-actuation hy such swinging of .said otheringers; 'said other means bein a hinge.

9. A 'tilt actuated switch .comprising a support a pair of spaced butside by ;side longitudinalfimge's, means mounting one nger in afixed:position on the support, other means securing the other finger at one'end 'on the support 'for laterally outward swinging motion, yielrlabl'eorce exertirg means normally resistin'g ila-tezrany o'u'tward :swingingmotion of saidother .fingen -a relatively heavy ball on said fmgers :forgravitationala displacement'th'erealong from 'a normal position adjacentsaid one iend :to a positicm ad'jacent 'the' opposite end 'whereby to.cause said :other 'finger to rectangu lar frame of elungated'configure-noma pair of spaced 'but side :by ,side lungitudinal fin-:

gers in the frame, one finger extending between and being Secured toopposite ends of the frame, a spring hinge connecting the other fingerat one end to the adjacent end of the frame, the opposite end of saidother fnger terminating short of the opposite end of the frame forlaterally outward motion of said other finger against the tension of thespring hinge, a relatively heavy ball on said fingers for gravitationaldisplacement therealon from a normal position adjacent said one end to aposition adjacent the opposite end whereby to cause said other nger toswing laterally outward against the tension of said spring hinge, andswitch contacts mounted for relativ actuation by such swinging of saidother finger.

11. A switch, as in claim 10, in which the frame is of dielectricmaterial; there being a pair of terminals on the frame in electricalconnection with said other finger and one of said Contacts,respectively.

12. A tilt actuated switch comprising an open rectangular frame ofelongated configuration, a pair of spaced but side by side longitudinalfingers in the frame, one finger extending between and being Secured toopposite ends of the rame, a spring hinge connecting the other finger atone end to the adjacent end of the frame, the opposite end of said otherfinger terminating short of the opposite end of the frame for laterallyoutward motion of said other finger against the tension of the springhinge, a relatively heavy ball on said fingers for gravitationaldisplacement therealong from a normal position adjacent said one end toa position adjacent the opposite end whereby to cause said other fingerto sWng laterally outward against the tension of said spring hinge, acontact on said other finge', and a cooperating contact on the frame,said contacts closing upon laterally outward swinging of said otherfinger.

13. A tilt actuated switch comprising an open rectangular frame ofelongated configuration, a pair of spaced but side by side longitudinalfingers in the frame, one nger extending between and being Secured toopposite end of the frame, a spring hinge connecting the other finger atone end to the adjacent end of the frame, the opposite end of said otherfinger terminating short of the opposite end of the frame for laterallyoutward motion of said other nger against the tension of the springhinge, a relatively heavy ball on said fingers for gravitationaldisplacement therealong from a normal position adjacent said one end toa position adjacent the opposite end whereby to cause said other fingerto swing lateraily outward against the tension of said spring hinge, acontact on said other finger, and a cooperating contact on the frame,said Contacts closing upon Iaterally outward swingin of said otherfinger; there being a pair of te'minals on the support, one terminalconnecting to said other finger, and the other terminal connecting tothe contact on the frame.

HENRY GESSWEIN.

No reference cited.

